There was a beautiful stallion standing alone near the gates at early dawn. Adira, up to retrieve water, stopped by the creature and crooned softly. "How long have you been standing there? You poor creature. Here, have some of this." She lifted her heavy bucket of water, changing grips so that she could support its weight more easily for the horse, who gracefully lowered its great head and drank a little.
"Now that's enough for now, I expect you will be galloping off with your master. I wouldn't want to give you belly ache." Adira smiled softly as she put the bucket down once the creature's thirst had been quenched. She glanced around, searching for a possible owner but none came to her eye. "I hope you haven't been abandoned, you are too fine a steed to be left here alone." She whispered, running a hand over the smooth black neck.
The horse watched her calmly, never moving an inch from his place. "I wish I had something else to give you. Do you like pears? I have one or two with me from a visit yesterday. They are still fresh." Adira offered then took out a pear from her pocket, as well as a small knife, then cut off a piece. "Here, try some." The horse ate it happily. "Ah good, though I hope it won't harm you. I will never forgive myself if it does. I should really be on my way but I worry for you, I wouldn't want you to stand all day in the baking sun. Where is your master?"
"Right here." A low voice whispered in Adira's ear, making her leap out of her skin and would have screamed with surprise had a gloved hand not curled around her mouth, clamping tightly down to drown out the sound. Altair! The swine, how dare he sneak up on a lady? Adira's panicked thoughts slowly calmed down as she glared up at Altair, who slowly let her go.
This woman was intoxicating. Even with her powerful glare Altair felt the urge to press her into the wall and just…he couldn't think about that. "This is your horse?"
"Yes." He answered coldly, moving around to stand by the horse's head. "You haven't poisoned him, have you?"
"I gave him a small drink and a slice of pear. Had I known he was yours, I would have taken him anyway." She spat, storming over to her pale of water, which Altair supposedly accidentally kicked over. "You clumsy oaf!" Her sharp insult made Altair smirk. "Don't you care how precious water is? There is not enough to go around limitlessly. Now I shall have to manage without water for an entire day." This surprised him. He had expected a well situated lady to simply go back for more, not berate him for his lack of care for precious resources.
"There is enough for you to draw more." He replied smoothly, checking his horse's tack and tightening the girth ready for him to mount. "Do not be so dramatic."
"Don't you realise that there is a water shortage? If everyone took more than their fair share then it will disperse far quicker!" Adira ran a tongue over her dry lips. She was desperate for a drink, though had only taken a sip from her pale when she had drawn it from the well. "Not all of us are as careless as you." She scowled then walked away, wondering how to compensate having no water.
Perhaps she could buy some weak ale, or suck on ripe fruits though neither were as nourishing as clean water. She was so deep in thought that she nearly missed the fact that someone had touched her shoulder. Adira turned around, scowling at Altair.
The man looked at her from under his hood and Adira was suddenly curious to know the rest of his features. Though she could not see his eyes, she fixated hers roughly where his would be. Altair sighed then lifted his water skin, offering it to Adira who blinked in surprise. Malik's words rushed to her head. Perhaps he really was kinder than he first appeared.
Taking it carefully as not to brush against his fingers Adira lifted the open nib to her lips and drank a little, a soft whimper of relief leaving her as the cool water ran down her parched throat. Altair shifted slightly at the sound, feeling his lust spike.
He noticed a length of cord draped around her slender neck so Altair, curious, reached forwards and drew the necklace out from under the folds of her cloak and dress. He ran his thumb over the square piece of wood with an engraving of a symbol was scratched into the soft wood. It meant hope. It was not something a woman would wear, it seemed more like a child's adornment since its length was a little too short for Adira, though her cloak had always kept it hidden. She eyed him continually but did not pull away.
When she handed the water back he snatched it quickly then turned away. She wanted to say thank you, but her pride stopped her from doing so at first. Giving into her better side, Adira lowered her head.
"Thank you." Altair nodded his head one, mounting up onto his horse and glancing to her before quickly turning his head towards the direction of his path. He needed to leave, immediately, however he found himself reluctant to go. To encourage him to leave that stubborn, irritating woman behind, he dug in his heels and allowed Naim, his stallion, to canter forwards and take him away.
Adira watched, knowing that with Altair gone, her task was far less likely to succeed. It nerved her, enough so that the hurried home and locked herself in. There was already something waiting for her on the table. It was a lock of dark, curled hair. Quickly she snatched it up and folded it into a small piece of cloth, tucking it between some books to keep it hidden but safe.
Time was running out, she had to get the information she needed. Knowing that she would have to wait for a few days before visiting Malik again, she sent messages to those who she had been told to address. If they were satisfied everything was going to plan then the life she so desperately wanted to protect would be safe, she could have him back. All she needed to do was finish her task.
So she waited. Two days later, she dropped by the bureau again. Then the day after that, then a few days after that until she was visiting every day before dawn or after dusk. Malik now smiled when she entered. "I'm beginning to wonder why you grace me with so many visits." He said to her as she laid out her usual spread of select foods and good wine. She had quite a few gift bottles at home, she was glad to finally be ridding herself of them.
"I enjoy your company." Adira answered sweetly. "And, to be honest, you're the first friend I have spoken to properly for a number of years. Save for Hassam, of course." She continued to lay things out when she heard a light step find its way to her attention. They were not the footsteps of anyone she recognised so as Malik turned to the door, she slipped behind the shelves and bookcase, hiding from view.
"Malik." A slightly slurred voice welcomed darkly. "It's been a while."
"It certainly has, Abbas. I was expecting you." Just within her vision, a man stepped forwards, looking around him crudely. He wore his hood down, revealing typically dark hair and eyes, though also Adira noted on his narrowed jaw and sharply crooked nose. In the eye of perhaps a slightly intoxicated harlot, he would be very handsome but Adira found fault with his confident gait, his malicious smirk and distasted eyes.
"Yes, I can see." Abbas dropped a blood stained feather onto the front desk then sat down in Malik's place at the table, taking a handful of raisons then threw them into his mouth. "Though you did not have to go so far."
"I did not." Malik answered back, moving around to scribe something onto parchment. "I have a guest."
"Oh? Do, pray, tell and show me this mysterious guest who is not anywhere in this room or the next." Malik looked around the room, trying to locate Adira before she stepped out from behind the bookcase.
"Welcome, sir. I pray you stop eating my favourite snacks." Abbas's smirk instantly grew broader, eyes narrowed as the smoothly wandered over the woman's finely built body. He wanted her. Now. Abbas stood and approached her, continuing his exploration but Adira moved closer to Malik, who did not look up but paid close attention to what was going on.
"Well, well, I did not expect this. You have fine taste in company, Malik, though I do wonder if you could do slightly better than he, my dear. Come, why don't you and I go for a walk in the market? I've seen some pretty things on the stalls and later, I could buy you a drink to moisten those dainty lips of yours." He reached out to touch her mouth but Adira's hand snatched his wrist before he could blink. He tried to push forwards but her grip was strong and held his hand back. He was completely in shock. Had this woman just moved faster than his reflexes? Impossible!
"I'd thank you kindly, sir, not to touch me." She informed coldly then stepped away from him, lacing her fingers together before her. "I am not in the habit of walking around town with strangers." Her tone was laced with ice as she lifted her chin slightly. "I am in good company with Malik."
"Oh I am sure." His smirk darkened slightly before bowing his head mockingly. "I shall leave you both to your…meal." Adira's eyes narrowed and she did not relax until Abbas had left the bureau to entertain himself with other, far more willing ladies.
"I do not like him." She declared once he was gone. "Not at all."
"Then you are good judge of character." Malik said, finishing scribing before returning. "Come, he is gone now and will not irritate us any further." Adira nodded her head, joining Malik before taking some raisons, delicately moving them around her palm before placing a few in her mouth at a time. Malik watched her curiously.
"What?" She questioned gently, blushing ever so slightly.
"I cannot determine what it is, but I feel as if there is more to you than meets the eye." Adira brushed this off, not letting her surprise show. With a modest look to the floor she smiled.
"I do not pretend to be anything great, if I can help it, I prefer to keep my life simple with as little excitement as possible." Though Malik still sensed something more about this woman, he did not press. He would do some research, though he thought of this woman as a good friend, he could not risk any threat to the Creed. No matter how kind hearted she seemed on the outward appearance.